Terms are for industrial-based sensors and transducers. For Aerospace terms & definitions, please refer to Applications Notes & White Papers or refer to LVDT, RVDT and Force Sensor data sheets.

Absolute Pressure – a measure relative to zero pressure.

Absolute Pressure Sensor – a sensor that measures input pressure in relation to relative zero pressure (a total vacuum on one side of the diaphragm) reference.

Accuracy – a comparison of the actual output signal of a device to the true value of the input pressure. The various errors such as (linearity, hysteresis, repeatability and temperature shift) attributing to the accuracy of a device are usually expressed as a % of span.

Altimetric Pressure Transducer – a barometric pressure transducer, used to determine altitude from the pressure-altitude profile.

Analog Output – an electrical output from a transducer that changes proportionately, with any change in input pressure.

Auto Zeroing Technique – a method used to automatically set the null point on a gage pressure transducer; usually done by using a microprocessor to open a solenoid valve at a predetermined time interval. This references atmospheric pressure to both sides of the gage pressure transducer. The microprocessor reads the output voltage and makes the new null point. This method is used to eliminate errors due to null offset and null temperature shift.

Barometric Pressure Transducer – an absolute pressure sensor that measures the local ambient atmospheric pressure.

Bi-directional Differential Pressure Transducer – a differential pressure transducer allowing the greater input pressure to be applied to either port.

Burst Pressure – the specified pressure that will rupture the sensing element or transducer case causing leakage.

Calibration – an act of modifying transducer output to improve output accuracy, or to verify actual output vs. specification.

Calibration Curve – a graphical representation of the calibration record.

Chip – a die (un-packaged semiconductor device) cut from a silicon wafer, incorporating semiconductor circuit elements such as resistors, diodes, transistors, and/or capacitors.

Compensation – added circuitry or materials designed to counteract known sources of error.

Differential Pressure – the difference in pressure between two independent pressure sources, measured relative to a reference pressure.

Differential Pressure Transducer – a transducer that is designed to accept two independent and simultaneous pressure sources. The output is proportional to the pressure difference between the two sources.

Drift – an undesired change in output over a period of time that is not a function of any input pressure change.

End Points – pressure transducer outputs at specified upper and lower limits of the transducer range.

End Point Linearity – see Terminal Based Linearity (TBL).

Error – the algebraic difference between the indicated value and the true value of the input pressure. Usually expressed in percent of full span output, sometimes expressed in percent of the transducer output reading.

Error Band – the band of maximum deviations of the output values from a specified reference line or curve due to those causes attributable to the transducer. Usually expressed as ± percent of span output. The error band should be specified as applicable over at least two calibration cycles so as to include repeatability and verified accordingly.

Excitation – the external electrical voltage and/or current applied to a transducer for its proper operation (often referred to as the supply current or voltage).